Where to improve pedestrian streetscapes: Prioritizing and mapping street-level walkability interventions in Cape Town’s city centre

Abstract

Pedestrian interventions for healthier and more inclusive streetscapes can be powerful mechanisms to increase the safety and comfort of walking in African cities. This article proposes a multiscale walkability analysis approach to identify both suitable streets for pedestrian travel and problematic areas requiring small-scale improvements (e.g., pavement repairs, building maintenance, streetlights, and public seating). We applied a GIS-based framework to the central urban area of Cape Town, South Africa, which presents complex social and environmental challenges. For each street-and-crossing segment, a virtual pedestrian streetscape audit tool was used to collect micro- and mesoscale environmental indicators and assess the quality of public space. This composite street-level assessment tool was weighted with a space syntax analysis indicator (i.e., spatial integration) to detect the network’s most interconnected and high-priority pathways. The Jenks natural breaks classification algorithm was used to classify scores for each segment, which ultimately found that the highest-priority streets for redevelopment are clustered in Bo-Kaap, a relatively disadvantaged, multicultural, and hilly district on Cape Town’s west side. Policy recommendations are evaluated to increase the quality of the urban environment and the city’s overall attractiveness to pedestrians. The proposed methodology facilitates more effective place management and classifies the city’s needs in improvements, minimizing both time and budget costs.

Keywords

• walkability
• pedestrian mobility
• built environment
• google street view
• cape town